Why is quantification more scientific than observation?
Sheila Kohring (University of Cambridge) This paper delves into the creation of scientific ‘fact’ in the archaeological record by considering ceramic/pottery assessments and how they impact our interpretations of social organisation, particularly regarding the organisation of labour. Quantification of vessel measurements and compositional analyses, while useful, are, however, often considered scientific truths and given substantial weight in interpretations, often to the detriment of commonly ‘observed’ characteristics, such as the visual and tactile nature of pottery sherds. Building from sociological understandings of technology (per Latour 1991), we must not overly prioritise perceived ‘factual’ characteristics or consider them objective truths. Instead we should consider material culture and the technology of its production and use as a palimpsest of social, contextual and practical actions. In this case example, specific interest is given to the terms ‘standardisation’ in pottery
